THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." (Ephesians 6:10)

Devotion 6 of 15

THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

In Christ Jesus, we are brought into spiritual conflict and war. It is not primarily a military initiative in which we are attempting to invade foreign territory, and capture property belonging to someone else. Ours is primarily a defensive posture. We are already in possession of gifts and graces that an enemy is trying to wrench from us. We are also making our way to a celestial city, and an enemy is making every effort to thwart our journey. Viewed another way, we are stretching forward to see our King, who is leading us to glory, and an enemy is making every effort to divert our attention to lesser things. This is why most of our paraphernalia is protective, and for defense. We are in the quest of something given to us, which rightfully belongs to us. The forces of darkness are set to stop us from this quest. They are powerful, and they are devoted to their cause. We dare not face them without the appropriate protection.

This brings us to our first protective piece of armor. "Stand therefore . . . having on the breastplate of righteousness" (Eph 6:14).

THE LORD JESUS. In his prophecy of the coming Messiah, the prophet Isaiah declared He would put on a breastplate. "And He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore His arm brought salvation unto Him; and His righteousness, it sustained Him. For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon His head; and He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak" (Isa 59:16-17). If the Savior "put on a breastplate" when He brought us salvation, we should not be surprised that those who appropriate his salvation are also required to wear a breastplate.

The "breastplate" was an extensive piece of armor. Historians, for whatever it is worth, tell us a breastplate consisted of two parts; one of which covered the whole region of the thorax or breast, and the other the back, as far down as the front part extended. More precisely, it protected the vital organs, or center of bodily life. In the case of this "breastplate," we are speaking of protecting the vitality of spiritual life.

NOT OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. The required breastplate is not our own righteousness, or the acts of holiness that we have committed. It is not our moral rectitude, which, though essential, is a miserable protection when we are assailed by our "adversary the devil." Although we are to "perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord, cleansing ourselves of all filthiness of flesh and spirit" (2 Cor 7:1), this is NOT the righteousness of reference. Our own godliness, though essential, is not the protective breastplate we are to "put on."

IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS. This "righteousness" is what is imputed, or credited, to us upon the basis of our faith. It is, as Scripture declares, "the righteousness which is from God by faith" (Phil 3:9). This is the "righteousness" made known in the Gospel, which gives the Gospel its effective power. As it is written, "For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written" (Rom 1:17, NIV).

This righteousness is conferred upon believers apart from the deeds of the law, or independently of our accomplishments. This is precisely the meaning of Romans 3:21-23. "But now the righteousness of God WITHOUT THE LAW is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." This is God's own righteousness, imputed to us because we have believed the record He has given to us of His son (1 John 5:10-11). It is the ONLY righteousness that is acceptable to God, and can only be granted to us because of the indispensable accomplishments of His Son.

All of this is attested by the exhortation to "put on" the "breastplate of righteousness." This is not a piece of armor that we are to hammer out ourselves, fashioning it, as it were, by our own efforts. It is a breastplate that is already fashioned. It is thoroughly effective, and cannot be penetrated by any devices of the devil.

To wear this breastplate is to be aware of it by faith. It is to receive the truth of God's righteousness, and eagerly appropriate it by faith. It is to receive "the GIFT of righteousness" (Rom 5:17), rather than seek to develop a righteousness of "mine own" (Phil 3:9).

This is not as simplistic as it may sound. Many, like Israel, are unaware of this marvelous righteousness. They are going about to develop a righteousness of their own, trying to make themselves acceptable to God. That kind of effort is described in the tenth chapter of Romans. "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS to every one that believeth" (Rom 10:3-4). This kind of righteousness (self-developed) was "described" by Moses. "The man who DOES those things shall live by them" (Rom 10:5). As worthy as such efforts may appear, they will not protect the soul in battle. They cannot be "put on" as a "breastplate!"

ANOTHER KIND OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. The righteousness of reference, i.e., the righteousness that PROTECTS as a breastplate, is another kind of righteousness. It is one GIVEN to those who believe, and is described in this way. "But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, ‘Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?' (that is, to bring Christ down from above) or, ‘Who will descend into the abyss?' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart' (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame'" (Rom 10:6-11).

The "righteousness of faith" is the righteousness that COMES to us through faith. It does not speak of doing, but of believing and receiving. Men must face the fact that if THEIR doing is the basis of their righteousness, then they are required to go up to heaven and bring the Savior down to earth to die for them. They are then required to do down into the depths and bring Him up from the grave and take Him back to heaven. The absurdity of attempting to do such a thing reflects the senselessness of trying to make ourselves righteous. Either God makes us righteous, or we simply will not be righteous! Thus it is written, "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be MADE RIGHTEOUS" (Rom 5:19).

For this righteousness to protect us, we are to walk in the lively persuasion of it–to believe what the Lord has said. He has declared the believing one will not be ashamed. Nothing will penetrate the breastplate of such a person. Putting on the breastplate of righteousness involves believing and being persuaded of the truth affirmed in the Gospel, and expounded in the Apostolic doctrine. That persuasion WILL protect you. PUT ON the breastplate of righteousness. Put it on!

PRAYER POINT: I thank You through Jesus Christ for providing a righteousness for me–one that fully protects me from the devil, and makes me acceptable to You. Grant me grace to put it on more fully, and to walk in a more lively and dominating awareness of it.

– Tomorrow: FEET SHOD WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL --